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Updated: Apr 2, 2026

Yeast As a Chassis for Developing Functional Assays to Study Human P53
Published on: August 4, 2019
The Moving Target: Cis-Mutation-Driven Resistance to p53-Y220C Reactivator
Yanqing Liu1, Wei Gu1,2
1Institute for Cancer Genetics, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University, New York, New York.
Abstract:
The study by Fece de la Cruz, Varkaris, and colleagues uncovered a critical mechanism underlying resistance to the p53-Y220C reactivator rezatapopt in the PYNNACLE clinical trial. Specifically, rezatapopt treatment was shown to select for secondary mutations in the TP53 gene on the Y220C-mutant background, thereby abrogating its therapeutic efficacy. See related article by Fece de la Cruz et al., p. 677.
Insights
Rezatapopt resistance in the PYNNACLE trial arose from new TP53 mutations. These secondary mutations in the Y220C-mutant background reduced the drug
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Therapeutics
Background:
- The p53 protein is a critical tumor suppressor. Mutations in TP53, including Y220C, are common in various cancers.
- Rezatapopt is a novel therapeutic agent designed to reactivate p53 with the Y220C mutation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanisms of resistance to rezatapopt observed in the PYNNACLE clinical trial.
- To identify genetic alterations that confer resistance to p53-Y220C reactivation therapy.
Main Methods:
- Genomic analysis of patient samples from the PYNNACLE trial.
- Sequencing of the TP53 gene in tumors exhibiting rezatapopt resistance.
Main Results:
- Rezatapopt treatment selected for secondary mutations within the TP53 gene in patients with the Y220C mutation.
- These acquired TP53 mutations abrogated the therapeutic efficacy of rezatapopt, leading to treatment resistance.
Conclusions:
- Secondary TP53 mutations are a key mechanism of acquired resistance to rezatapopt.
- Understanding these resistance mechanisms is crucial for developing future strategies for p53-targeted therapies.
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